Collapsible core



Nov. 6, 1951 w.- 1. PUGH COLLAPSIBLE CORE Filed Sept. 30, 1948 .INVENTOR. W/LL/AM J- PUGH my ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

is stifi and heavy, like leather or composition belting. Moreover, once withdrawn it is even more difiicult to put it back in. The problem,

then, is to provide a satisfactory collapsible core.

One object of this invention is to provide a core which can be collapsed to permit its easy withdrawal from the center of a roll of strip material which has been wound around it.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible core which may be inserted easily into the center of a wound roll, and which may be used in handling, transporting, or unrolling that roll, and may be released and withdrawn from it at any time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible core capable of use with heavy rolls of strip material, such as leather belting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible core having novel means adapted to receive the end of a strip and hold it while form ing a roll from the strip.

A further object is to provide a collapsible core having strip-receiving means as aforesaid which is readily released from the end of the strip when the roll is formed.

It is contemplated that this invention will find use in conjunction with the device described in my copending application Ser. No. 769,203, filed 'August 18, 1947, and which has matured into Patent No. 2,525,509, issued October 10, 1950.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description given in accordance with U. S. Revised Statutes, Sec.

4888. An embodiment of this invention is herein described in detail, but it should be understood that the invention is defined in the claims, and is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment described and. illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the device in Fig. 1, showing the modified core in its ex.- panded position;

. Fig, 3 is a view in section through the center of the core along the line IIII .I in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4; is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the core in its collapsed position, with the removable bar removed;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the core in its collapsed position before the removable bar is removed; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the removable bar removed.

Broadly, this invention contemplates the use of a plurality of bars supported around an axle by two radially slotted plates. A belt-type spring normally urges all but one of the bars toward the bottom of the slots. A cam plate alongside each slotted plate is arranged to be rotated around the axle in one direction to force the bars outwardly into an expanded position and rotated in the other direction to let them move inwardly. The bars are so spaced that when they are in expanded position they may receive between them the end of a strip of material and hold it from slipping while the roll is being formed. One bar is readily removable from the core when the core is in its collapsed position, in order to further reduce the size of the core. When this bar is removed, it is quite easy to slip the coreout from the formed roll.

Referring to the drawings, the axle 5!! supports the entire core and projects beyond it so thatit can be held on suitable bearings when the core is used in winding or unwinding a roll of belt material. Two discs or slotted plates 5| and 52 are keyed to the axle, one adjacent each end. .The plate 5|, shown in Fig. 1, has four closed radial slots 53, while the other plate 52, shown in Figs. land 4, has three such closed slots 53 and one open slot 54. The number of slots 53 will vary with the number of bars 55 needed and with the diameter of the plates 5 I, 52.

A plurality of bars 55, corresponding in number to the number of closed slots 53 in the plate 52, have at each end stub shafts 56 which slide in the slots 53. The portion of the bars 55 between the plates 5| and 52 may preferably consist of hollow iron tubing of substantially greater diameter than the stub shafts 55.

The three bars 55 are preferably round, as were the bars l6, and their stub shafts 56, which slide in the slots 53, are preferably square to prevent rotation. A fourth bar 5'! is in most respects ex-. actly like the bars 55, differing only in having at one end a lon er stub shaft 58, the end 59 of which is shown as a rectangle reduced in thickness. Its other stub shaft 50 may be identical jhe stub shafts 56.

Each 0f the stub shafts 58 on the bars 55 is grooved at 6!, and a single belt spring '62 passing around these shafts 56 lies in the grooves 61 and urges the bars 55 normally in towardthe center axle 50. Since the fourth bar 57 is to be removable, its stub shafts 53 and it are not grooved, and the spring S2 passes over and rests against the hub 63 instead of around the bar 51 (see Figs. 2 and 4).

Cam plates 64; and E5 are positioned on the hub 63 de the plat s and 2. At the hi h Points 6 he ar 55 and i ar forced to their outermo t p it ons. whi e at the low points 6.8, the bars assume their innermost positions. There may be a flange 6'! at the low points 68 to limit the movement at those locations. The cam plate 65 includes an L-shaped latch 69, which is positioned to overlie and hold the end 59 of the stub shaft 58 of the fourth bar 51 when the core is in its expanded position. The latch 69 clamps around the end 59 at a point beyond the end of the stub shafts 56. Therefore, the latch 69 does not strike or interfere with the shafts 56 when the core is moved to its collapsed position (see Figs. 2 and 4). When the core is collapsed, the latch 69 is moved around 90, and releases the bar 51, so that it may be removed.

A set screw 10 (preferably an Allen screw) fits in a recess H in each hub 63 and enables each cam plate 64 and 65 to be fastened to the axle 50 at any desired rotational position around it. When the set screws 10 are released, the cam plates 64 and 65 may be moved to either their collapsible or expanded position and held there by tightening the screws.

When the core is collapsed and the latch '59 releases the shaft end 59, the shaft 58 may be lifted out through the open slot 54. The bar 51 may thus be entirely removed from the core and from the inside of the roll of material.

The advantages of this improved core are particularly well seen in making up a new roll of material. With the core in expanded position (see Figs. 2 and 3), the end I3 of the strip of belting 14 (e. g.) is inserted over the removable tube or bar 51 and in behind the adjacent tube or bar 55. This holds the strip 14 so that it may be wound into a roll. When the roll is formed, the cam plates 64 and 65 are turned to collapse the core (see Figs. 4 and 5). Then the loose bar 51 can be lifted out, further reducing the size of the core (see Fig. 8). This operation also releases the inside end of the strip, and the core can be readily withdrawn without any jiggling or fussing. Reinsertion or insertion into a different roll may be done in the reverse order or with the bar 5! in place before insertion of the core.

I claim:

1. A collapsible core for winding strip material into a roll, including in combination an axle, a first plate keyed adjacent each end of said axle and having a plurality of radial slots, a corresponding plurality of bars parallel to said axle having stub shafts at each end which support them slidably in said slots, means to urge all but one of said bars radially inward toward said axle, and a second plate mounted rotatably on said axle adjacent each said first plate, having means to fasten it to said axle and having a plurality of cam faces, each engaged by one of said stub shafts and each shaped to move said bars radially outward when said cam is rotated in one direction.

2. The core claimed in claim 1 in which said means to urge said bars radially inward comprises a belt spring adjacent each end of said axle, passing around all but one said stub shafts.

3. A collapsible core for winding strip material into a roll including in combination an axle; a disc keyed adjacent each end of said axle and having a plurality of radial slots, one of said slots on one said disc being open at the periphery of said disc; 9. corresponding plurality of bars parallel to said axle having stub shafts which support them slidably in said slots, one of said bars being removable by virtue of one of its stub shafts fitting in said open slot; means to urge the non-removable bars radially inwardly toward said axle; and means to move said bars radially outward 4 from said axle and to hold them in a desired position in said slots.

4. The core claimed in claim 3 in which there is a separate latch for holding the removable bar when it is moved to its outermost position.

5. A collapsible core for winding strip material into a roll, including in combination an axle; a stationary plate keyed adjacent each end of said axle and having a plurality of radial slots, at least one of said slots on one of said plates being open; a corresponding plurality of bars parallel to said axle having stub shafts which support them slidably in said slots; a movable plate mounted rotatably on said axle adjacent each said stationary plate, each movable plate having means to hold it in a set position with relation to said axle and having a plurality of cam faces each engaged by one of said stub shafts and each shaped to move said bars radially outward when said cam is rotated in one direction; a latch on said plate adapted to engage and to hold the stub shaft which fits in said open edged slot when said movable plate is rotated to the cams outward position; and means to urge radially wound toward the axle the bars other than the one corresponding to the open slot.

6. The core claimed in claim 5 in which the stub shaft fitting in said open slot is longer than the other stub shafts and in which the latch engages said stub shaft at a point beyond the other stub shafts.

7. A collapsible core for winding strip material into a roll, including in combination an axle; a pair of plates, one keyed adjacent each end of said axle and each having a plurality of radial slots, one slot on one said plate being open at its outer end, the other slots being closed; a corresponding plurality of bars parallel to said axle, each bar having means at each end for supporting said bar slidably in said slots; means for urging all but one of said bars radially inwardly toward said axle; and means for forcing said bars radially outwardly against the pressure of said urging means.

8. A collapsible core for winding strip material into a roll, including in combination: an axle, a plate secured adjacent each end of said axle and having a plurality of generally radial slots, one of said slots on one said plate being open at its outer end; a corresponding plurality of bars parallel to said axle and having ends that fit slidable in said slots, one of said bars being removable by virtue of said open-end slot; means to urge the non-removable bars radially inwardly toward said axle; and means for moving said bars radially outward from said axle and for holding them in a desired radial position.

WILLIAM J. PUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 854,661 Mills May 21, 1907 1,858,607 Whalen May 17, 1932 1,885,192 Elssner et al Nov. 1, 1932 2,161,061 Keyes June 6, 1939 2,446,690 Carpenter Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 252,547 Italy Mar. 24, 1927 

